The Consell, the main town councils and other institutions of the Valencian Community have paid tribute this Monday to the victims of the 11M terrorist attacks on their twentieth anniversary. A minute of silence was held outside the Palau de la Generalitat in memory of the 193 people who lost their lives and the more than 2,000 who were injured in the terrorist attacks on four trains on the Madrid Cercanías network.
The president, Carlos Mazón, has called for turning the memory of the attack into “as difficult as it may seem, a new stage of coexistence and frontal rejection” of any type of terrorism.
“Twenty years later, we all return to the memory, the pain and, above all, the future” that “this country has already won,” he said, to emphasize that it is the best tribute that can be paid.
Previously, the mayor of València, Mª José Catalá, councilors of the corporation and the Minister of the Interior, Elisa Núñez, participated in the commemoration of the European Day of Victims of Terrorism, in an event organized by the Association of Victims of Terrorism ( AVT) in the Plaza de la Reina de València. At the same time, a minute of silence has been observed at the doors of the Valencia City Council, as well as in Alicante and Castelló de la Plana.
Catalá has highlighted “the moral obligation that this country has to not forget and dignify the work of the associations of victims of terrorism and the memory of their families and loved ones.” On the other hand, he has criticized “the whitewashing of political parties that are heirs of terrorism in Spain, which generate deep pain for the victims.”
Furthermore, the first mayor has highlighted the restitution and cleaning by the City Council of the monument to peace and concord and the upcoming relocation to a more visible place in the Plaza de la Reina, after which she has shown her desire for the tribute annual event for the victims of 11M in Valencia is held at this point and not before the town hall.
For her part, the Minister of the Interior has stated that in these 20 years we have seen “the solidarity of a great nation that knew how to transform contempt for murderers into generosity towards the victims.” “Terrorism is a scourge in any civilized society; it is necessary to fight it without concessions, firmly and with a desire for reparation, memory and justice,” she proclaimed, and showed the commitment of the Generalitat to caring for the victims. .
Among the municipal groups, Papi Robles (Compromís) has defended that on this day it is necessary to “focus on the pain and accompaniment to the victims” and not “try to polarize.” “It has been 20 years since the greatest attack that Europe has ever experienced and 20 years since the greatest infamy that we have experienced from a political and partisan use of such a serious attack,” he added.
Juanma Badenas (Vox) has maintained that it is necessary to remember “each and every one of the victims of terrorism” and has charged against the Government for “trampling the rule of law” by reaching agreements with Bildu.
Along the same lines, the delegate of the AVT in the Valencian Community, Isabel Morell, has stated in this event that it is necessary to have empathy with the victims and accompany them throughout the year, she has vindicated the displays of solidarity that were experienced on December 11. March 2004 and has taken the opportunity to criticize Bildu and those who “give lessons from Congress” on terrorism.
In Alicante, councilors from the five municipal groups, officials and citizens joined the minute of silence held in the Town Hall square. As vice mayor, Manuel Villar, has expressed his “resounding rejection of any act of terrorism and violence” and has praised “the security forces and health workers who gave their best in those dramatic hours that changed Spain and moved to all the world”.
